Which celeb should be the mystery GOP convention speaker?

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Clint Eastwood could be the mystery speaker at the 2012 Republican National Convention.

Story highlights

The latest RNC schedule notes that the convention will hear remarks from someone

A single unnamed source reportedly said Clint Eastwood is the surprise guest

The success of any tightly scripted, live event is measured in ratings, ticket sales and buzz

The success of any tightly scripted, live event is certainly measured in ratings, ticket sales, buzz, and -- with regard to quadrennial political nominating conventions -- voting returns. But the real yardstick for any major pop-culture event comes down to one simple element: The surprise celebrity cameo. Recent examples include James Bond and Queen Elizabeth skydiving into the London Olympics Opening Ceremonies; Tupac Shakur's hologram at Coachella; and when Jon Hamm popped up to say goodbye to Kristen Wiig on "SNL."

Hoping to add itself to that storied list, apparently, is the 2012 Republican National Convention. The latest RNC schedule, released on Monday, notes that before presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio, the convention will hear remarks from someone -- or something -- "To Be Announced." That tantalizing clue led FoxNews.com today to report via a single unnamed source that actor, filmmaker, and all-around American icon Clint Eastwood is indeed the surprise guest.

Unless it's football player Tim Tebow. Or former president George H.W. Bush arriving via parachute (the 85-year-old is quite the skydiver). Or, as one aide maybe joked in the story, "a Ronald Reagan hologram."

These are all choices with serious potential to stir up some major buzz -- if the remarks weren't preceding the biggest speech of Mitt Romney's political career. That's the trick of a surprise guest: You want people to be impressed, but you don't want to overshadow the main event. Would Romney look cooler drafting off of Eastwood or Tebow? Or by comparison would he seem more like a businessman android than some already claim he is?